Day One

Unbelievable day. We picked her up in Mequon at 10:00 am and had her in the round pen by 11:00 at the Pink Barn. We made a last minute decision to start working her without a buddy around, so it was just me and the mare. The spectators left after about 30 minutes and I was alone with her. I had no trouble getting inside turns 100% of the time, and I rested her often. I did not push her hard--focused on the eye and stepping off the rail.

Anyway, it got a little ugly after that. I roped her but she stepped through and I had one leg plus her neck--it was more around her belly than her neck now. I kept working her by pulling and releasing when she faced me, but there was no way I was going to get that lariat off. Aaaargh.

I went to catch my trusty mare Panda to help as a buddy, but when she ran off I grabbed Star instead. By the time I brought Star into the barn, Brian showed up and he came in to help me.

Brian used Star as a blocker and soon we figured out how to hold the mare in between Star and the rail. We could then reach over Star and start to rub her. At some point in here I put a second lariat around her, too, this time getting a clean loop around her neck. Anyway, using Star to block and to calm her, we took both ropes off and then got a rope halter on her. Brian was a godsend--incredibly calm and helpful. Star was amazing. There were ropes everywhere and she just stood still. She did not feed off the mustang at all. What a great mare.

With the halter on (and taking breaks during all this, btw), I taught her to step over behind well on both sides and start to lead. Using the stick, I began rubbing her and by the end of the day I was rubbing her with my hands well on both sides. The face and belly are still ticklish, but the withers and neck are very easy.

It was an amazing experience! Wow.